Paul Murphy News

Following news of Birmingham's Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16 December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online.

Five outstanding new writers from the UK, Australia and the US are the finalists for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting. Ayad Andrews, Gina Stevensen, Pravin Wilkins, Safaa Benson-Effiom and Zoe Ashford Cooper were chosen from 1,719 scripts sent in from 45 countries.

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union for Australian performers, says that the decision to cast an international actor to play the lead in a new production of the musical Pippin is another snub of the enormous well of Australian theatrical talent.

A brand-new partnership has been confirmed between Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, which will see the two established companies combine creative ingenuity to stage new dance works in the heart of Birmingham city centre.

Grand Teton Music Festival has announced Music from the Mountains repertoire with Music Director Donald Runnicles, world-renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman, and soprano Jacquelyn Stucker headlining.

Less than one month into his new job as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta announces plans for world premieres, classic revivals and brand-new partnerships in his first year as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Opportunity, talent and inspiration are the key ingredients that underpin his vision and ambition for the company.

Birmingham Royal Ballet's critically acclaimed Swan Lake, first created in 1981 by Sir Peter Wright and Galina Samsova, will tour the UK from 29 January 2020.

Last night, Birmingham Hippodrome raised the curtain on its first ever home-grown youth production as a fresh new production of West Side Story opened to a sell-out audience and standing ovation.

Ahead of the musical season finale of 'American Housewife,' the shows cast shares what their favorite musicals are. 

Oye Santana, UK No.1 Winner at the 2018 National Tribute Music Awards, check in to Darlington Hippodrome on Saturday 8 June 2019 as part of a 50-date UK tour celebrating 50 years since the Woodstock Festival, where an electrifying performance catapulted Santana to stardom.

This August, Birmingham Hippodrome will present its first home-grown youth production as a fresh new production of West Side Story comes to the main stage from 29 - 31 August.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes the annual return of acclaimed ensemble, the Emerson String Quartet on May 14, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. in a program that will feature the first West Coast performance of Shostakovich and the Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy. Co-created by writer-director, James Glossman and Emerson violinist Philip Setzer, this new multi-media work features seven actors in addition to the quartet and depicts the trials and challenges of composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his unwavering quest to write an opera based on Chekhov's mystical tale The Black Monk. Emerson String Quartet members include Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer, violins; Lawrence Dutton, viola and Paul Watkins, cello.

“American Housewife” will air two special music-themed episodes this spring. The “American Idol” episode, airing TUESDAY, MARCH 19 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), includes special appearances by music industry forces and the superstar judges of ABC's “American Idol,” Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with Emmy® Award-winning host and producer Ryan Seacrest. The episode follows Taylor's (Meg Donnelly) dream of becoming a musical superstar. Katie (Katy Mixon) and Greg (Diedrich Bader) are skeptical when Taylor announces she will use her college fund to travel to Los Angeles, audition for “American Idol,” wow the judges and become an overnight sensation; but Taylor's passion is undeniable.